Chapter 45: The "True Fragrance" Outside the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well | Miss, I'll Be Gentle!
At sunset, beneath the fading glow of dusk, Zhu Zhuqing stepped into Heaven Dou City.
The city walls towered high, the streets were broad, crowds flowed endlessly, and shops stood in neat rows.
After an exhausting day, the young girl had no intention of enjoying any nightlife.
She ate a simple meal and found an inn to rest for the night.
The next day, at Bai Lu's request, she rented a quiet courtyard within the city and settled in temporarily.
After that, she began familiarizing herself with the city.
She strolled through the streets while gathering information.
At the same time, she sold all of Bai Lu's unused "inheritance" at the Heaven Dou Auction House, easily obtaining a staggering sum of nearly ten million gold soul coins.
With money in hand, Zhu Zhuqing immediately spent a large sum to acquire a new pair of custom-forged storage earrings.
The earrings were simple in design, entirely silver-white, each inlaid with a grain-sized amethyst.
The right earring had limited space, only five cubic meters, but it could contain living beings and preserve the vitality of plants.
After that, she set her sights on another strategic resource: whale rubber.
It had to be said that Heaven Dou City truly lived up to its reputation as a gathering place for nobles and dignitaries. The stock of whale rubber was abundant.
Without much effort, she successfully purchased a batch of decent-quality thousand-year whale rubber that had been difficult to sell.
As for ten-thousand-year whale rubber, there was not even a trace of it.
In the end, she had no choice but to commission local merchants with funds, asking them to use their channels to acquire ten-thousand-year whale rubber.
"Let's head to Sunset Forest."
Only after the matters in Heaven Dou City were settled did Bai Lu give his next instruction.
"Sunset Forest?"
Zhu Zhuqing asked no further questions and left the city directly.
Sunset Forest was located dozens of kilometers east of Heaven Dou City.
Although its area was far smaller than that of the Star Dou Great Forest, it still housed a considerable variety of soul beasts.
"Where are we going next?"
As she moved swiftly through the forest, Zhu Zhuqing asked in her heart.
"To find a treasure land."
Bai Lu replied.
"You mean…"
Zhu Zhuqing's eyes lit up. "The location of the immortal herbs?"
"Exactly."
Bai Lu clearly remembered the position of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well from the original story.
It was near a hill about five hundred meters tall, situated within a valley basin. The area was humid, and the air carried a faint scent of sulfur.
Dugu Bo had also set up a poison formation around it for defense. Ordinary soul beasts and soul masters simply could not approach.
Most importantly, the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well was located at the very center of Sunset Forest.
With these characteristics, Zhu Zhuqing did not have to spend much effort. After less than half a day, she found the valley.
"The immortal herbs are inside?"
A trace of excitement flashed in her eyes. "Then let's go in!"
"Little kitty, you're really bold," Bai Lu said helplessly. "Don't you see the poisonous mist surrounding the valley?"
"So what? Don't I have the White Tiger Vajra Transformation you gave me?"
The poison formation might be terrifying, but Zhu Zhuqing felt no fear.
The White Tiger Vajra Transformation granted by Bai Lu only doubled her overall attributes, which sounded almost embarrassing for what could be considered a hundred-thousand-year-level soul skill.
However, its true strength was never the amplification itself, but the immunity to abnormal status effects it provided.
In other words, once White Tiger Vajra Transformation was activated, Zhu Zhuqing was immune to poison.
A mere Jade Phosphor Serpent poison was nothing to be afraid of.
"So what's your point?"
"You think I don't know the abilities I gave you?"
Bai Lu glanced at her, speechless. "Have you considered why a perfectly good valley would suddenly be filled with poison?"
The reason he had not granted Zhu Zhuqing a more powerful soul skill back then, instead choosing the simple and unadorned White Tiger Vajra Transformation, was precisely for today.
To enter the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
To steal the immortal herbs.
He was not someone who liked to place his hopes in others.
Especially not in someone unpredictable like an old poison monster.
Pretending to be like other transmigrators, telling Dugu Bo he could detoxify him, and gambling his life to gain trust to obtain the immortal herbs had never once crossed his mind.
From beginning to end, his plan had always been to steal them.
Finding the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well was never the key.
Immunity to the poison formation was not the key either.
The true key was how to create an opportunity to steal the immortal herbs.
"You mean… this place has an owner?"
Zhu Zhuqing reacted quickly.
If even the Blue Silver Emperor soul bone could have an owner, then it would be perfectly normal for a place filled with immortal herbs to belong to someone.
"Finally caught on," Bai Lu sighed.
"I can sense the aura of a Titled Douluo inside."
"If I'm not mistaken, it should be the legendary Poison Douluo, Dugu Bo."
"His strength may be far inferior to Tang Hao's, but he is not someone we can contend with right now."
"Then what should we do?"
Zhu Zhuqing frowned slightly.
A Titled Douluo was not frightening.
Stealing was not frightening either.
What was frightening was stealing inside a Titled Douluo's home.
If she were caught halfway through by the owner returning, that would be beyond awkward.
"No rush. Look around first. A true hunter requires patience."
Bai Lu said calmly, "If there is no opportunity, then seek one. If you cannot find one, then create one."
He paused, then suddenly asked,
"Do you remember the purple-haired girl you met at the wolf bandit village?"
"Yes."
Zhu Zhuqing nodded.
Although they had only met once, Dugu Yan's enchanting and eerie aura had left a strong impression.
"Her aura is very similar to the one inside. If I'm not mistaken, they should be related by blood."
Bai Lu's tone carried clear implications.
"You mean…"
Zhu Zhuqing's eyes widened slightly.
She understood what he was hinting at.
"If the granddaughter were in danger, do you think Poison Douluo could remain at ease guarding the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well?"
Bai Lu's voice was calm, but the meaning behind his words made Zhu Zhuqing's heart skip a beat.
"That's not very good…"
She hesitated.
She knew it. This big tiger never had pure intentions.
Attacking someone for personal gain, then taking the opportunity to steal from them.
That truly went against her principles.
"Oh?"
Bai Lu countered, "Then what about the Blue Silver Emperor's right leg bone?"
"That's different!"
Zhu Zhuqing said righteously. "That was a hundred-thousand-year soul bone!"
Anyone in her position would have done the same if given the chance.
Compared to that, the effect of immortal herbs was still uncertain to her.
After all, she had neither seen nor heard much about them and did not know their exact effects.
"Immortal herbs do not grant soul skills," Bai Lu said seriously, "but their improvement to one's aptitude far surpasses that of soul bones. In the long run, their value may even exceed a hundred-thousand-year soul bone."
"Are you telling the truth?"
Her eyes sparkled.
If immortal herbs truly had such effects, then her talent…
"Of course."
Bai Lu affirmed.
Without the aptitude enhancement from the immortal herbs, even with Tang San's backing, the Shrek Seven Devils might not have qualified to inherit godhood.
After all, on the surface, those gods were attracted by talent before bestowing their inheritances.
"Well… when you put it that way,"
Zhu Zhuqing's thoughts shifted immediately.
"I think… sometimes principles can be flexible."
I'm sorry; she's a shallow girl.
She had absolutely no resistance to hundred-thousand-year soul bones, soul rings, or items of equivalent value.
It could only be said…
The fragrance was irresistible.
"I knew you'd say that."
Bai Lu looked completely unsurprised.
The law of true fragrance was not something easily escaped.
"When do we act?"
Zhu Zhuqing asked eagerly.
'Sorry, miss.'
'You'll just have to suffer a little.'
'When the time comes, I promise I'll be gentle.'
End of Chapter